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You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Psalms 119:114
Do you have trouble throwing away those ‘love letters’ from long ago? Perhaps a card, or a note scribbled on paper from someone you love. Perhaps you even take them out from time to time when you are feeling hopeless because they remind you that even though life around you seems to be falling apart, you have this one gentle reminder that life will be okay, that the things that are troubling you are a blip on the screen of life.
Some look at the Bible as a confusing book that’s hard to understand. I look at it as a love letter. A friend of mine told me of a time her husband was deployed overseas. She was home with the kids. This was before internet and instantaneous, global communication.
When a letter arrived from her husband, the world stopped. She would sit and read it carefully. It was almost as if he were there. It was a reminder of hope. It was a reminder that this struggle was temporary. It was a reminder that she was making it and soon he would rejoin them.
The Psalmist paints that kind of picture of God’s word. Oh, the Bible is full of deep theological truths to be sure, but the overriding theme is a love story of a God who earnestly wants you to enjoy his company. Immanuel, God with us.
Some day, he’ll return in physical presence. Until then we have a love letter of hope. May His Word fill you with hope this Advent season and beyond.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalms 133:3
What do you do during the dry times of life? When the doctor delivers a report that catches you totally off guard and leaves you numb? When you get that horrible call about a loved one’s accident? When you get divorce papers delivered to you without any warning? (You knew things were bad, but not that bad) When your job/business/career suddenly ends?
You pray, but your prayers don’ t make it past the ceiling. You try to read your Bible but the words are just letters on a page. You reach out to those who you thought would support you but find no one that is willing to listen, but plenty of people have all the answers for ‘what you need to do?’
It’s during those times that we just long for a hug, a little understanding, someone who will stand by us whether our struggles are a result of our own poor choices, or factors beyond our control.
The good news is that Jesus has an answer. Way back at creation, when He saw your life and the trials you’d need to endure. He implemented the perfect plan for your life and that plan is the church.
Now, before you stop reading, try to take a look at the church Jesus envisioned. The church isn’t a building with programs and music and those gifted with teaching and Biblical knowledge presenting a well-rehearsed diatribe.
Nope, the church Jesus envisioned was people. People with a common goal of helping each other endure life. People with a knack for being encouragers and intercessors. He tells us that a group of two or three is a church where he dwells. It’s not about numbers!
Hours before Jesus was brutally murdered he prayed in a garden to His Father. He didn’t pray for churches to have strong programs and classy buildings. He prayed for people. He prayed we would be united by a common bond of love. He prayed for unity.
Unity is best exemplified by harmony. If you’ve ever heard an orchestra or choir sing you know how beautiful harmony can be. Look up an A cappella group on YouTube. I love A cappella music. One of the things I try to do is try to figure out who is singing which part. If the group is good, it’s hard to tell because they sound like one voice.
David gives a beautiful picture of harmony in Psalm 133. He likens harmony as refreshing as dew from Mt Hermon. It’s said that while Mount Hermon was very dry, the dew would form so heavily that it poured off the mountain as waterfalls.
Dew forms during the darkness, yet refreshes in the morning. God’s blessings are like dew. They come as a refreshment during the dry times of life and often come to those who live in harmony. Too often we miss harmony because we seek uniformity. We aren’t all the same!
If you are in a dry time seek those who can be like dew in your life. Seek out those who accept you regardless of why you are where you are. If you are living in the blessing of God’s ‘dew’ share it with those who are dry.
We aren’t all the same, but with Jesus’ help we can live in harmony. We can be dew to each other!
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 